For six decades, the Grammys (presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) have been one of the major events in the global record-industry year, and on Friday the shortlist for the 2019 Awards was announced, with nominees including Andris Nelsons, James Ehnes, The King's Singers, and (for the second year running) the late Dmitri Hvorostovsky. The winners will be revealed in a star-studded ceremony at Staples Center, Los Angeles on Sunday 10th February.
Read on for details of the contenders nominated in each of the eight main classical categories - many of our own favourites from the past twelve months or so make an appearance, plus a few wild cards which we'll be exploring in more depth over the coming weeks!
Orchestral Performance
Estelí Gomez (soprano), John Taylor Ward (baritone), Thomas Dausgaard
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas
Available formats: 2 SACDs, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons
Available formats: 2 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Opera Recording
Gerald Finley (Robert Oppenheimer), Julia Bullock (Kitty Oppenheimer), Brindley Sherratt (Edward Teller), Samuel Sakker (James Nolan), Andrew Staples (Robert Wilson), Jennifer Johnston (Pasqualita); BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Orchestra, John Adams
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)
Edwards Parks (Steve Jobs), Garrett Sorenson (Steve Wozniak), Sasha Cooke (Laurene), Jessica E. Jones (Chrisann), Wei Wu (Kōbun Chino Otogawa); Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, Michael Christie
Available formats: 2 SACDs, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Judith Van Wanroij (Alceste/La Gloire), Edwin Crossley-Mercer (Alcide), Emiliano Gonzalez Toro (Admète/Second Triton); Christophe Rousset, Les Talens Lyriques
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Rigoletto), Nadine Sierra (Gilda), Francesco Demuro (Il Duca), Andrea Mastroni (Sparafucile), Oksana Volkova (Maddalena); Kaunas Symphony Orchestra, Men of the Kaunas State Choir, Constantine Orbelian
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Choral Performance
Patram Institute Male Choir, Vladimir Gorbik
Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
The Clarion Choir, Steven Fox
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
The Crossing, Donald Nally
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Mariss Jansons
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)
Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
Danish String Quartet
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Aizuri Quartet
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Marc-André Hamelin (piano), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
Classical Instrumental Solo
Christina Day Martinson (violin), Boston Baroque, Martin Pearlman
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Joshua Bell (violin/director), Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
James Ehnes (violin), Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Ludovic Morlot
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Classical Solo Vocal Album
Anthony Roth Costanzo (countertenor), Les Violons du Roy, Jonathan Cohen
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor/director), Ensemble Artaserse
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Sabine Devieilhe (soprano), Alexandre Tharaud (piano), Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Randall Scarlata (baritone), Gilbert Kalish (piano)
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
Songs of Orpheus
Monteverdi, Caccini, Merula, Brunelli, Castello, Cima, Landi
Karim Sulayman (tenor), Apollo's Fire, Jeannette Sorrell
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Classical Compendium
Jeffrey Biegel (piano), London Symphony Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
The King's Singers
Available formats: 3 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunkchor Berlin, John Adams, Alan Gilbert, Gustavo Dudamel, Kirill Petrenko, Sir Simon Rattle
Available formats: 4 CDs + 2 Blu-ray Videos, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Dallas Winds, Jerry Junkin
Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 176.4 kHz, 24 bit)
Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Elmer Iseler Singers, Peter Oundjian
Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Contemporary Classical Composition
Edwards Parks (Steve Jobs), Garrett Sorenson (Steve Wozniak), Sasha Cooke (Laurene), Jessica E. Jones (Chrisann), Wei Wu (Kōbun Chino Otogawa); Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, Michael Christie
Available formats: 2 SACDs, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Joyce DiDonato (Arden Scott), Ailyn Pérez (Tatyana Bakst), Frederica von Stade (Winnie Flato), Nathan Gunn (Sid Taylor), Anthony Roth Costanzo (Roane Heckle); Orchestra and Chorus of The Dallas Opera, Patrick Summers
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
James Ehnes (violin), Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Ludovic Morlot
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Olivia de Prato (violin)
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)
